…vending stalls used as beds
EDWIN MOYO
Gweru-One of the oldest, spacious and luxurious beerhalls in the city of progress, Ascot Beerhall has since lost its aura as it has been turned into Sodom and Gomorrah by pleasure seekers.
During the night sex workers take advantage of the inactivity at the bar and turn it into a sex haven with their willing clients for quickies at no accommodation cost or with underage clients who might not have homes for the act.
The desecration of the iconic former entertainment hub has been attributed to lack of adequate resources by Gweru City Council who are the custodians of the facility to run it lucratively as they used to do before the beer sector was liberalised to include the innovative and fast private sector.
Ward 8 residents have taken a dig at Council for failing to resuscitate the entertainment flagship in the high density suburb of Ascot.
A tour of the facility the giant facility and its environment leaves one with a bleeding heart as it has lost all its attractions and purpose with dilapidated facilities and dirty walls greeting the visitor.
The only community that has a sense of satisfaction for the giant facility are the sex workers and those who engage in drugs as they have a ready hideout for their night activities.
Speaking to The Midweek Watch on the collapsing entrance of the aging infrastructure at Ascot Shopping Centre, ward 8 resident, Jane Mukunya said the closed beerhall was now dangerous haven which houses social misfits including drug peddlers and abusers.
Mukunya bemoaned mismanagement of council facilities saying it was important for the local authority to invite investors who could utilize the facility for the benefit for of the community.
“Closed as it is, the beerhall serves as a haven for thieves and immoral activities at night. People hardly cross by the facility at night without being mugged by robbers as the place is dark and isolated.
“The most disturbing thing is these marauding thieves are our own children, who grew up in the hood and know the area very well, we are not at peace at all in this community,” she said.
Another resident, Ryan Tinotenda Magovere, a vendor at the shopping centre said, market stalls and the deserted beerhall were being used as lodges at night.
“This beerhall closed as it is now was posing a serious threat to the whole community, a number of activities are happening here. our young kids especially minor girls are being abused in this beerhall at night.
“Man are sleeping with young girls at our market stalls, beerhall, maize fields, they are even taking advantage of the tall grass which you see as council is not sprucing up the place.
“These girls are just minors, imagine old man preying for girls between the ages of 11-17 years for as little as ZWL$ 200 for a night. Just imagine sleeping with a man who is as old as your father for ZWL$ 200, The situation is disturbing and very pathetic. Some of the kids are escaping from nearby boarding schools for sex work here.
“Last week I woke up around 4am to order my stuff at Mtapa Market, what I saw was quite disturbing to say the least as the market stall was being used as a bed as tables were turned upside down. An old man was clinging to a very young girl oblivious of passers-by.
“We need to find a solution, our children and fathers have gone bongers. Children no longer listen, they escape home to look for men, while the men are taking advantage of the situation be it economic or social due to abuse of drugs and hard substances which is prevalent among youths,” he added.
Gweru United Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Association, (GUPRARDA) director, Pastor David Chikore said Council had failed to resuscitate a lot of facilities which generate revenue which goes a long way in assisting service delivery for the benefit of the residents.
“Growing up we used to value these beerhalls, they were places of socialization for the grown ups as they would meet and engage in meetings for their burial societies or drinking clubs.
“In doing so a lot of revenue was being generated by council and that money was sustaining council operations, We would receive funds for youth clubs which were there also. As of now things have changed, we can’t talk of an operational beerhall as a revenue generator anymore.” Said Chikore.
Meanwhile Gweru City Council Public Relations Officer, Vimbai Chingwaramusee said most of the beerhalls like Ascot were open for leasing.
“As a local authority we are currently not using some of the facilities like beerhalls but they are open for those who want to rent.
“We are leasing them out. We have already flighted adverts to that effect but we have not received any takers as of yet,” she said.
